Festive Candy Cane Pizza Breadsticks (Printable)
Soft garlic butter breadsticks twisted into candy cane shapes with melted mozzarella and pepperoni. Ready in 35 minutes for festive gatherings.
# What goes in:
→ Dough
01 - 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough
→ Toppings
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 24-32 slices pepperoni
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
→ To Serve
08 - 1 cup marinara sauce
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out pizza dough to a 12 x 8-inch rectangle.
03 - Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into 8 equal strips lengthwise.
04 - Take one strip, twist slightly, and shape into a candy cane. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strips, spacing them apart.
05 - Brush each breadstick with melted butter mixed with minced garlic.
06 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each breadstick.
07 - Arrange pepperoni slices diagonally along each breadstick to mimic candy cane stripes.
08 - Sprinkle with Parmesan and Italian herbs.
09 - Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
10 - Cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They turn ordinary pizza night into something magically festive without any fancy techniques
- The pepperoni stripes create that classic candy cane look while adding savory flavor everyone actually wants
02 -
- Working with cold dough makes it harder to twist into shape, so let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before starting
- Overcrowding the baking sheet prevents even cooking, so use two sheets if needed to give each candy cane breathing room
03 -
- Room temperature dough shapes more easily and cooperates better than cold dough right from the refrigerator
- A light dusting of cornmeal under each breadstick adds restaurant style crunch to the bottom crust